No maintenance, internet issues force shutdown of hi-tech labs in many T.N. schools

Hi-tech labs in many government high and higher secondary schools across Tamil Nadu are either partially functional or entirely non-functional due to an absence of maintenance and poor internet access. As a result, students in these schools have been unable to use the labs for computer classes, educational videos, online examinations, or career guidance sessions for the past year.

“The UPS is down, and there is no projector. Online tests cannot be conducted as the computers do not run without electricity. We have contacted the maintenance service, but since their contract ended in April 2025, the computers in the hi-tech labs have stopped functioning,” said a computer science teacher from Tiruvallur district.

Officials in the School Education Department noted that these labs were set up in 2019 as part of the first phase of the project, under which 6,029 schools received hi-tech labs. At the time, the annual maintenance contract was awarded to Larsen & Toubro for five years, which ended in April 2025. Teachers said that whenever issues arose during this period, the necessary services were carried out without hindrance.

The contract tender has not yet been closed, even though the contract period has ended, sources in the department said, adding that this has prevented the issuance of a new tender.

Students bear the brunt

As schools prepare for the upcoming examinations, teachers are worried about how students will take part in practical examinations or competitive exams conducted online. Every government high school has a hi-tech lab with 10 computers, while every government higher secondary school has ones with 20 computers.

“While the computers are working, the UPS has not been serviced, which means that the moment the electricity goes out, the computers shut down,” said a teacher from Virudhunagar district.

Further, not many online tests have been conducted for students this year, except for four exams. “Earlier, we used to have at least one cycle of tests every three months on computers. This gave students confidence in navigating online exams such as the National Merit-cum-Means Scholarship examination and other competitive exams,” added a teacher from Tiruvallur district.

Internet woes

About 8 km from Melur in Madurai district, a government higher secondary school has locked its hi-tech lab due to the absence of an internet connection. At the beginning of the academic year, the School Education Department had notified all schools to switch to BSNL for internet connectivity. However, in villages located far from towns, BSNL has been unable to provide an internet line. “Previously, a local cable operator provided us with internet access, but after the switch to BSNL, the hi-tech labs have remained shut for over a year,” said a computer science teacher.

The Tamil Nadu Higher Secondary Computer Teacher Association (TNHSCTA) stated that the inverters in the labs need to be replaced. “Some technical problems can be resolved. However, if the systems themselves need to be replaced, it is difficult at present. As students will soon have to face practical examinations, the non-functioning of hi-tech labs is a major issue that needs to be addressed immediately,” said G. Murugan, general secretary of the TNHSCTA.

‘Upgradation in phased manner’

Samagra Shiksha Project Director M. Aarthi said that the government was aware of the problems. “The School Education Minister has announced the upgradation of the already established hi-tech labs, which will take place in a phased manner. We are identifying other schools that are facing internet-related issues. Discussions are under way with the Tamil Nadu FibreNet Corporation (TANFINET) to establish internet connectivity in schools where BSNL cannot reach,” she said. She added that teachers could also approach the district coordinator for the programme for the maintenance of hi-tech labs.

In the first phase of upgradation, 885 hi-tech labs, at a cost of ₹56 crore, will be replaced. The procurement process for these labs has already begun, the official added.